Seeking advice: To stay or keep looking for more land?

I would love feedback on how to possibly use what we have better or if we should stop improving this land and save to find more land?

We have 5 acres near Norris lake in Tennessee. We bought this land in somewhat of a hurry because the rental we were in while we were looking for land was going to go up in price and would have been way to expensive. These 5 acres was a lower monthly living expense (crazy right?!) and the plan was to keep looking for more land.

My husband wants to just stay put, he doesn't like change and moving around, however he is open to moving if the right place came a long. I always have wanted more land so we could run a small business, build a huge food forest, a pond and be able to host a cow or sheep etc. However building roots and not waiting for "greener grass" sounds great. I am wanting to start my food forest if we are going to stay, every year I don't make that decision is a year we don't have food. However, every development costs money and takes cash away from getting another place. I am torn because I want food security and a certain lifestyle for my kids and them not have this sense of always waiting for something better. But am I making more challenges trying to build something here on limited space?

Factors to include:
1. We are up against a north west facing hill (what could we grow here that would do well?) a large part of our property is pretty shaded. in the summer we have 2 fields that get sun, but still not full sun.
2. We have 2.5 usable acres maybe, 1.5 a mountain and .5 a road easement
3. we do back up agains my neighbors 120 acres and we get to explore and hunt on it, but he is in his late 70s and if his kids take over, i doubt we would get that privilege anymore, but then again we might have a chance to buy some of that land, however possibly not.

attached is a photo of the land with a very rough idea of the property line. top is north, bottom is south. I also marked where the creeks are, very low in the summer, rushing big only if it rains heavily

Ultimately, only you and your husband can decide.  But you already know that.  I would check with your neighbor now about buying land if that is important to you.  The northern exposure of your property is a minimal challenge. People have been planting gardens in less desirable locations for many many years, so I don’t see a real challenge there.   As for the pond, it is possible on your present property….depending on the size you want.

When  I bought my property with a large pond on it, it had 6 acres. I bought another 5 acres off my neighbor.


Oh yes,  welcome to Permies.

Welcome to Permies!

I do not have any good advice, except that not all land will meet our ideals however it can be transformed to suit us.

I currently have a third of an acre that I am hobby permaculturing on. I too have the desire for more land but it does not limit me completely from doing the things that I desire completely.

Take it for what it is worth, unless I had the means to easily transition to another plot then I would spend my time improving the one I am on starting with what is ranked the most important to me and work downward. I might not be able to keep pigs, but I do have chickens!

I just want to say that you don't have to keep waiting for starting your food forest. Now is the time to hunt down seeds, take cuttings and start propagating! ( like right now, seeds are out there, ready for you to take them and fall/winter cuttings work for lots of things)

Even if you start with a bag of compost and some junky pots, you can get that forest started. If you stay, you can put them out, ( and you can just stuff any ones you thin into the ground and any that take are donations to the new owners, if you move on) and if you move, you have a chunk of things ready to go for cheap. Even if you can't move much, you'll get to take the lessons you learned from the experience and practice of doing it.

I just moved into my hopefully forever home a few months ago and we had been in process for that move for over 2 years. I'm so glad I got started on the propagation early and have been able to plant some of the bones of my forest already and have a bunch of seeds to get started for the spring.

My $.02 is start that food forest immediately and as cheaply as possible.  Don't worry about cultivars, just direct sow and get the roots started, if you move then you're not out much but if you stay, you got root stock you can graft onto.  I'm on less than 2 acres and the more I plant the more I realize how much more space I actually have and being limited forces you to come up with creative ways to maximize what you got.  You can cut swales in your hillsides and plant your fruit trees right there.

Hi Shayleigh,

About 20 years ago I was in a similar predicament.  In my case, I was living on a 1/2 acre lot, but I was moving to a 9 acre lot.  Our new home was not even started yet, but I wanted to grow a garden even though I did not know when we would be leaving.  My approach was to garden in containers that I could bring with me.  If you started planting trees in large containers, you could at least get them started while you make your decision.

Eric

Congratulations, you have what looks like a beautiful home stead.  You said it was affordable, WoW, that’s awesome. You want food security?  Thats  just a matter of time!  The only challenge I see is maybe the cow!  

20 years ago I purchased 5 acres on a north slope, with a basic home, small meadow and wooded hillside.  Today I have a food forest garden, chickens and enough food security to be comfortable.  I am also completely debt free and in semi retirement.  My homestead is not perfect, I wish my house was a bit bigger, and newer.  We considered upgrading but not doing so has given us the opportunity to be debt free and to have more control over our time.

Without time not spent at an outside job or business attaining food security is much more difficult.  It’s just one more thing to be done and most people don’t bother as a result. I am surrounded by people who live on rural acreages but do not have the time to do much about food security or business building because they have big mortgages and auto loans.  So be careful what you wish for!  

Hi!  Your property looks perfect to me.  I'd just dam up a little part of the south fork of the drainage at the south which creates a temporary pond, in case you sell and the next person doesn't want a pond. Rocks and irrigation tarps are easy to use. Plant your fruit trees everywhere you can get water to them. Shady and hilly ground is perfect for animals.  Pigs, cows, sheep love to forage in the woods and unkept places, and it keeps them busy, instead of laying around waiting to be fed. I'd garden in the most sunny area, but not all plants need sun all day.  Ask your neighbor if you can rent a little adjacent land if he won't sell you some.  I would look at the county cadastral map, find a piece of land that would straighten your property line or his along your property line, and show him/tell him what you would like to do with it.  If you want to run a milk cow, tell him you'd swap milk for rent?  If you would run a few hogs, give him one a year for meat.  I don't know if people around you like those deals, but there are a lot of people doing that. Have fun!  I'm very proud of you for getting where you are! Awesome!

I'm on 0.42 acres these days.  I have had a lot of land in the past but I am single and 60 in north central Wyoming and I divorced poorly so started over. I use poly tunnels to keep the temperature swings better under control, but only get about 5 hours of sun, yet they do very well. I have chickens and gardens and start new fruit and nut trees every year. I don't get anything from the trees yet, after years of healthy living, so just start with small bare roots and if nothing else, you can dig them up and take them with you, or negotiate a price to leave them for a future buyer if that is appropriate. I try to live for now, but I would love to have my old acreages back if I had help with them.  For now, I have to work, I am in debt and I still grow my own food and can lease land next door if I need more.  Best of luck!  You are doing it!

Don't underestimate what you can do with 5 acres, and how much time it can take to develop even just a single acre. This past February I purchased 8 acres through an auction, and unsuccessfully tried to also get the adjoining 5 acres as well.  While initially disappointed, in hindsight not getting those extra acres was fantastic because I'm already stretched too thin working on the land I have.

Consider the idea of a minicow!  They're cute, they still make milk, and meat if meat is what you seek, but they don't need as much space!  And then maybe you could make your five acres work.

Thank you so much for so many encouraging comments. I appreciate the advice! You have all helped me decide to put down roots and do what I can with what I have. If something opens up we'll great but I don't want to live waiting for something. I love this forum! Thanks everyone